No fare hike in wake of Air India strike: DGCA warns pvt airlines

New Delhi: Aviation regulator DGCA said strict action will be taken against private airlines if they take advantage of Air India strike by increasing air fares.

Earlier Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said air fares must not rise as a result of the ongoing agitation by striking pilots, Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh told reporters after his meeting with the Prime Minister on Friday.

Ajit Singh met the prime minister today to apprise him about the standoff between the pilots' body and Air India managment that has resulted in a four-day long strike and cancellation of several flights, including many flying to international destinations.

Passenger's woes continue as the pilots' strike entered its fourth day on Friday.

Atleast 20 flights, 8 Air India and 12 Kingfisher, were canceled on Friday as the pilots refused to call off the strike.

Meanwhile, 10 more Air India pilots were sacked on Thursday taking the total number of sacked pilots to 46. Air India has also stopped all international bookings till May 15.

Air India has been suffering from a loss of Rs 10 crore per day due to the strike.

Adding to the passengers’ woes, seventy-two Kingfisher pilots based in Northern India have gone on a mass sick leave, following which 17 Kingfisher flights have been cancelled so far.

Most of the pilots currently flying are from the management and are protesting the non-payment of salaries since December.